Sarnian four start their title defence
THE Guernsey women’s four start the defence of their British Isles Championships crown in Belfast this afternoon.
Alison Merrien, Shirley Petit and Catherine Snell have been joined by Rose Ogier, who has come in for the injured Carol Ingrouille in the one change from the quartet who won the title in 2020.
Guernsey are representing the Channel Islands in seven disciplines in Northern Ireland over the next three days in the championships which were due to be played in March, but were postponed until now because of Covid.
The change of dates meant the host club could only accommodate the championships over six sessions and so some of the playing rules have also changed. For example, each game will be played to three hours instead of four, reducing the number of ends that can be played.
Merrien will be the CI representative in the women’s singles while Sarnians are prevalent in the men’s events as they feature in the singles (Steve Le Noury), pairs (Dave Jeffery and Garry McFarlane), fours (Ian Merrien, Dave Jeffery, Josh Bonsall and Alan Merrien), senior fours (Nigel Collins, Mick Hullock, Norman Wood and Dave King) and under-25 singles (Brad Le Noury).
Guernsey will have further interest at the championships this year through one of the world’s top players in Jason Greenslade.
He is a born and bred Welshman and will be representing Wales in Belfast, although he recently moved to Guernsey to live.
Greenslade, who has consistently been among the top 16 on the World Bowls Tour Rankings for more than 15 years and achieved a career high of second in 2006, has previously won in all disciplines apart from the men’s singles at the Indoor British Isles Championship, so he will be looking to add that final title to his collection.
